Water-heater.



No. 784,403. PATENTED MAR. '7. 1905.

W. E. KAY.

WATER HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 16, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

jWM W y WTNES l/Vl/E/VTOR M wzzmm ATTORNEYS No. 784,403. PATENTED MAR.7, 1905.

W. E. KAY.

WATER HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 16, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WJTIVESSES [NV R 70E ATTORNEYS PATENTED MAR. 7, 1905.

W. E. KAY.

WATER HEATER.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 16, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

mhwqg ATTORNEYS PATENTED MAR. 7, 1905.

W. E. KAY.

WATER HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 16, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

n 0 T N E V N I Willz'aw Elia ATTORNEYS NITED STATES Patented March 7,1905.

\VILLIAM EDYVARD KAY, OF LORAIN, OHIO.

WATER-HEATER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 784,403, dated March 7,1905.

Application filed November 16,1904. Serial No. 232,971.

To all Hill/07H it Duty concern:

Be it known that I, l VILLIAM EDWARD KAY, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Lorain,in the county of Lorain and State of Ohio,have invented a new lVater-l-Ieater, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to a water-heater adapted for use in barber-shops,bath-rooms, and other places where it is required to heat water in avery short time and in considerable quantity. The apparatus is soconstructed that the volume of the heating medium consumed and theconsequent amountof heat developed and utilized is varied proportionateto the quantity of hot water drawn otf for use, this being" effectedautomatically by a new regulating valve mechanism and new form ofburner. These and other features and parts embodying the invention arehereinafter described and claimed,andillustratedinaccompanyingdrawings,in which Figure 1 is a central vertical section of the heater. Fig. 2 isa view in which the casing is shown in central vertical section and theburner and water-coil are shown in part in section and in part inelevation. Fig. 3 is mainly a bottom plan view of the burner, a portionbeing shown in section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 4:. Fig. L is aperspective view of the lower portion of the burner, part being brokenaway. Fig. 5 is an irregular horizontal section on the line 5 5 ofFig. 1. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section particularly illustrating theconstruction and arrangement of the valve mechanism. Fig. 7 is aperspective view illustrating the needle-valve and the piston connectedtherewith. Fig. 8 is a detail crosssection on the line 8 8 of Fig. 5.Fig. 9 is a horizontal section on the line 9 9 of Fig. 1. Fig. 10 is asectional view illustrating the construction of the water-coil. viewfurther illustrating the arrangement of the coil.

A indicates a cylindrical sheet-metal casing; B, the valve mechanism forregulating inflow of water and combustible gas; C, the gasburner, and Dthe water-heating coil, such operative parts B G D being detaehablysuspended within the casing, as will be hereinafter described.

Fig. 11 is a plan \Vater is admitted by pipe 1 (see Figs. 5 and 6) tothe cylinder 2. provided with a piston 3, arranged to slide therein. Apointed or needle valve A is rigidly connected with said piston andworks in a stuffing-box, then traverses a chamber (1, to which gas isadmitted by pipe 7, then enters a passage-way to which gas is admittedby a series of openings 8, communicating with a passage 9. Thence thegas passes to a conical burner 10 (see Figs. 1 and 2) and then to aninverted cone (I. From the cylinder 2 water is conducted by pipe 1 tothe heating-coil D. Aspiral Spring 11 is arranged and supported behindthe piston 3 and serves to hold the needle-valve at normally in theposition shown in Figs. 1 and 6, by which all the gas-inlets 8 areclosed. The compression and tension of said spring 11 are regulated byan adjusting-screw 12, which is accessible exterior to the casing A, asshown in Figs. 1 and 6. The conical point of the valve a is flexiblyconnected with the body or rear portion by a spiral spring 4. (Seeespecially Fig. 7.)

v The coil 1) terminates in an outlet-pipe 1", that passes through thecasing A and in practice connects with shown.)

The piston Z) is normally balanced by pressure of water on its oppositesides, as will be understood from the following description. (See Fig.6.) At diametricallyopposite points the cylinder 2 is provided with sidepassages 14 and 13, one, 14 communicating with inlet 1 and the otherwith outlet 1. From such inlet-passage 11, a small opening 16 admitswater to the space behind the piston 3, and a series of similar openings17 allows discharge of water from such space into outlet-passage 13.'lhus water-pressure is equal on opposite sides of the piston, and whenno water is being drawn off from the coil D the piston 3 is in positionto cut off communication between the inlet let and outlet 13, and thevalve talso cuts off flow of gas through openings 8 into a. servicepipe.(Not tube 10, that leads to the burner (l; but when water is drawn offfrom the service-pipe a movement or current is established to supply itsplace in the coil D and connecting-pipe 1. Hence water is drawn throughpassage and the comnnmicating openi ugs 17 from the space behind thepiston 3, and since the several openings 17 permit a much more rapidflow than can be supplied through the opposite opening 16 it is apparentthe water-pressure on the back of the piston 3 is reduced as com paredwith that on the front of the piston, and hence the piston moves backacorresponding distance. Ordinarily this movement will be sufficient toopen communication between pipe 1 and the space in front of the piston,and thus a free and rapid flow of Water to and through the coil D takesplace. So soon as the discharge from the service-pipe is cut off theformer conditions are reestablished, the spring restoring the piston 3and gas-valve 4 to their normal positions as quickly as the inflow ofwater through opening 16 restores the water-balance.

The burner C comprises a conical burner and superposed inverted doublecone, by which the gas and flame are distributed. The cone is formed oftwo parts 18 and 19, (see Fig. 4,) the smaller one, 18, being arrangedwithin the other, 19, and separated therefrom by a narrow space. Theupper edge of part 19 is extended vertically, as shown at 19. The saidparts are rigidly connected by webs 20, the whole being cast integral.The webs 20 extend from the bottom of the double cone upward and areconstructed to form passages 21, that allow free admission of air fromthe outside to the inside. (See Fig. 3.)

The fan-shaped spaces 22 between the webs 2O serve as gas passages orconduits, the gasdischarging from the distributing-chamber 10 throughnipples 23, that screw into the basecone. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) The gasburns as it escapes from spaces 22, the flame being directed upward bythe rim 19. Air is admitted to spaces 22 by openings 25, (see Figs. 1,2, 3, and 4,) the same being formed in the outer cone member 19 at thebase of the same. A circular slide 26, having like openings, (see Figs.1 and 2,) is arranged outside the double cone, and by adjusting it theadmission of air is regulated at will. The inverted double cone 18 19 ispreferably cast integral with the conical chamber 10.

The coil D is constructed and arranged as follows: It is arranged in aseries of spiral layers or convolutions, each supported upon ahorizontal frame or spider formed (see Fig. 9) of a central hub 29 andthree radiating arms 30, all in one piece. These spiders are in turnsupported by means which will be presently described. The arms 30 areheld the necessary distance apart vertically by the elongation of thehubs 29, whose ends are in contact, as shown.

The convolutions of the coil D are wound right and leftthat is to say,beginning Where the water-conducting pipe 1 joins or merges into thecoil the winding is from right to left, each convolution rising andwinding or merging into the one above until the top of the coil isreached, when the winding is reversed and proceeds from left to rightuntil the bottomis reached, when the winding is again reversed andproceeds again from right to left, and so on until the coil joins ormerges into the discharge-pipe, 1 (see Fig. 1,) which connects withtheservice-pipe.

All the working parts of the apparatus are arranged within the casing Aand detachably supported therein by the following means: A rod 31 (seeFigs. 1 and 2) is suspended concentrically with the casing from the topthere of by means of a hanger in the form of a strap 32, and the hubs 29of the several spiders are arranged thereon as shown and supported byacotter-pin inserted through rod 31. Asmaller rod 33 is screwed into thelower end of the rod 31 in alinem'ent therewith, and a jam-nut 33* isapplied to lock the parts together. To the lower end of this smaller rod33 is attached the conical distributing-chamber 10, with which thewater-cylinder 2 is rigidly connected, one head of the cylinder beingpreferably cast integrally with the chamber, as shown. It will be seenthat by this means all the working parts are suspended detachably asrelates to the casing A and that they are detachable from each other. Ithus make provision for convenient assemblage of all the parts composingthe water-heater, also for 9 detachment of the same from each other, asmay be required for repair or other purpose.

By the construction and arrangement of parts above described I provide awater-heater which fully utilizes the fuel consumed and automaticallyvaries the supply and consumption of gas or other heating medium indirect proportion to the quantity of water passing, through and drawnoff from the coil. Thus a supply of hot water is produced with greateconomy and rapidity and maintained with great uniformity.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire tosecure. by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a water-heater, the combination with the gas-burner and awater-heater proper, of the water and gas regulating mechanismcomprising a piston and its cylinder having a main water-inlet near itsfront end and a small Water-inlet on one side in rear of the piston andan opposite water-outlet of greater capacity, a needle gas-valve rigidlyconnected with said piston and extending in the direction of movementthereof and working in a bearing having a gas-inlet that extendslengthwise of the valve near its conical end, a spring acting on therear side of the piston, and pipe connections for waterand gas, alloperating as shown and described.

2. In a water-heater, the combination of the burner and a water-heaterproper, a gas-conductor connected with the base of said burner, andhaving an elongated gas-inlet, a sliding valve arranged in line with thegas-inlet and controlling admission of gas therefrom, a watercylinderhaving a main water-inlet that communicates with its front portion, asmaller water-inlet and a relatively larger water-outlet arranged nearthe rear end of the cylinder, a slidable piston arranged between themain water-inlet and the smaller inlet and outlet, a spring acting onsaid piston to hold it normally in an intermediate position respectingthe water-inlets, a water-outlet pipe connected with the cylinder and soarranged that the piston covers its mouth when in normal position, thesaid piston and gas-valve being connected so that theyslide together,substantially as described.

3. In a water-heater, the combination with a burner, of a gas-conductorconnected therewith and having a side passage provided with a series ofgas-outlets, a needle-valve adapted to slide in said conductor andfitted in the bore with which said gas-outlets communicate, thearrangement being such that the gasoutlets are uncovered in proportionto the retraotile movement of the valve, and a watercylinder having aslidable piston which is con' nected with said gas-valve, water inletsand outlets being provided whereby the flow of water through thecylinder is proportionate to the volume of gas which passes the valve,substantially as described.

4. in a water-heater, the combination with a burner, of a gas-conductorand a needlevalve adapted to reciprocate therein, the said conductorhaving a passagearranged parallel to the valve and communicatingthroughout its length with the bore in which said valve reciprocates,and a water-cylinder and piston which is slidable therein and connectedwith the gas-valve, the cylinder being provided with differential inletsfor admitting water to both sides of the piston for balancing the same,and a water-outlet communicating with the rear side of the piston,substantially as described.

5. In a water-heater, the improved burner, comprising a conical gasmixing and distributing chamber, and burner proper formed by asuperposed and inverted double cone, the two conical parts beingarranged one within the other and spaced apart, a series of airopeningsformed in the outer part and gaspassages leading upward therefrom, thesame being formed by and between partitions that extend upward betweenthe two conical parts of the burner, substantially asdescribed.

6. In a water-heater, the burner comprising a conical base portionhaving a distributing-chamber, and a body portion formed of invertedcones arranged concentrically and connected and spaced apart, a seriesof partitions ranging from the bottom upward and forming a series ofgas-passages, and a series of air-openings formed in the outer cone andconnnunieating with the said gas-passages, substantially as described.

7. In a water-heater of the class indicated, the combination, with aninclosing casing, and a hanger supported vertical from the top of saidcasing, of a series of independent and removable spiders each composedof a central hub applied to said hanger, and a series of radiatinghorizontal arms, for supporting the convolutions of a pipe-coil,substantially as described.

8. In a water-heater, the combination with the casing, and a central rodsupported from the top thereof, of a series of spiders each comprising acentral perforated hub and radiating arms, the several spiders beingapplied to said rod, and a water-coil formed of a series of spiralconvolutions which are supported upon the arms of the spiders,in themanner described.

9. In a water-heater, the combination with the casing, of a hanger-rodarranged centrally and detaehably connected with the top of the casing,a second rod which is detachably connected with the first-named one, aseries of horizontal spiders supported upon the firstnamed rod, and awater-heating coil arranged on the said spiders, a burner, and Water andgas regulating mechanism connected therewith, all supported deta'chablyfrom the central hanger in the manner described.

\VILLIAM EDlVARD KAY. l/Vitnesses:

L. L. PIPER, E. A. ROBINSON.

